D^:^^^MnKl.:| TKTOX SIOUX MUSIC 437 



Tlu^ usual time for a buffalo hunt was the early fall, when the 

 Iniffalo came down from the north, but a few could be found at 

 almost any season of the year. The medicine-men had an important 

 part in maintaining the food supply for the camp. They sometimes 

 gave warning of times of scarcity and advised the procm-ing of a 

 liberal supply of food. This advice was heeded and a special hunt 

 was made. There wore times when it was not permissiV)le for a man 

 to hunt independently. At such a time, if a man were found with a 

 supply of fresh meat which he could not satisfactorily account for, 

 it was the duty of the aki'cita to seize it. Further, they might beat 

 the man with clubs and tear down his tipi. (See p. 313.) 



The making of bows and arrows for the buffalo hunt was described 

 bv White Hawk ((^Vtaii'ska), a Sioux from the Cheyenne River 



Fig. 35. Drawing from picture calendar— the year of the last buffalo hunt. 



Reservation (Mr. Edward Swan interpreting). Although these were 

 said to be "buffalo bows and arrows," it is probable that they were 

 similar in design to those used in war. Wliite Hawk said: 



The buffalo bows of two men were seldom exactly alike, either in pattern or in 

 strength, but one characteristic which all had in common was that the place for fitting 

 the arrow was nearer the upper than the lower end of the bow, the lower section being 

 longer and tliicker than the upper. Some men used the wood of the cherry or plum 

 tree for their bows, while others preferred the crab apple or some other hardwood. 

 The back of the bow was covered with sinew which had been made flexible by rub- 

 bing and then dried. "WTien this was ready the back of the bow was cut in numerous 

 places and covered with glue made from the hide of the buffalo, the part used for this 

 purpose being a strip between the horns, back of the eyes; the sinew was then applied 

 and became part of the bow. The string of the bow was of the sinew of the buffalo 

 bull, twisted and dried. 



'White Hawk said further he knew of tliree kinds of arrow points : (1) 

 His great grandfather used arrow points of cut flint; he had seen 

 4840°— Bull. 61—18 30 



